ECOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION OF BENTHOS IN ILOILO RIVER

A Research Proposal Presented to

Prof. Jonny B. Pornel

In Partial Fulfilment of the Course

Research II

Abalajon, Inaj Mae

Francisco, Angilhiza Marie
Guay, John Michael
Monaya, Karmelie Jane
Talidano, Jiezel Keith
Tenedero, Lourdes Rae Louise

SEPTEMBER 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction
A. Background of the Study

B. Research Framework

C. Statement of the Problem

D. Hypothesis

E. Definition of Terms

F. Delimitations

G. Significance of the Study

II. Review of Related Literature

A. Introduction

B. Review of Related Literature

III. Methodology
A. Materials

B. Procedures

IV. References

11

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Iloilo River, fifteen (15) km long, is the longest running estuary in the province that passes through
the city and flows from west to east. It maintains high level of productive biological activities and serves as
nursery for many important fish; and the rise and fall of the tide makes it possible for nutrients, such as
planktons and detritus, to circulate in and out of the Iloilo River (Hechanova, 2010).
Benthic organisms are important part of the marine ecosystem and play a decisive role in
maintaining ecological balance. These organisms form a major link in the food chain as most estuarine and
marine fishes, birds and mammals depend directly or indirectly on the benthos for their food supply
(George et al, 2009). Water quality can influence benthic organisms abundance, composition and
distribution (George A. D. I., Abowei J. F. N, Daka E. R., 2009; Imevbore, 1967; Haslam, 1990; APHA,
WWA, WEF, 1992; Odiete, 1999).
The growing population near coastlines increases pressure on marine ecosystems nearby to urban
areas through over-exploitation of marine resources and destruction of coastal habitats by development
and pollution (Burt et al, 2009). The protection of aquatic habitat from damage due to contaminants needs
proper assessment of the degree of ecosystem degradation and understanding of both the sensitivity of
aquatic organisms to contaminants and their ecological requirements (Lagrana et al, 2011). Benthos
influence chemistry of bottom-water and sediments (Rhoads et al. 1977; Aller 1980, 1982) and alter
sediment organic content (Pearson and Rosenberg 1978).

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
A. Introduction
The Review of Related Literature will be the discussion of the previous studies done about Benthic
Organisms and Iloilo River. This review will cover benthic organisms characteristics, relative abundance
and ecological distribution. It will be followed by the review about Iloilo River.
B. Review
Benthic organisms
Benthic organisms are typically comparatively immobile, thus indicating local conditions. Many
benthic organisms having life spans covering a year or more are good integrators of environmental
conditions. Benthic organisms are always present and abundant in an aquatic ecosystem, they are
relatively easy to collect and identify without using expensive equipment (Chapman, Jackson and Krebs,
1996). The most widely used group of aquatic organisms are the benthic macroinvertebrates (Koeh, 1999).

Benthic organisms are important links in the food chain, which serve as food source for other
organisms such as fishes, birds and mammals and play an important role in the transmission of nutrients
(Adeogun, Fafioye et al, 2011). In the brackish water ecosystem, they include several species of
organisms, which divide different phyla including annelids, coelenterates, mollusks, arthropods and
chordates (George, Abowei, Daka et al, 2009).
The most popular biological method in assessment of freshwater bodies receiving domestic and
industrial wastewaters is the use of benthic macro-invertebrates (Odiete, 1999). Studies showed that
CHAPTER IV
REFERENCES

Aller, R. C. 1980. Relationships of tube-dwelling benthos with sediment and overlying water chemistry, In
Marine benthic dynamics, ed. by K. R. Tenore and B. C. Coull, 285-308. Columbia, SC: University
of South Carolina Press.
Aller, R. C. 1982. The effects of macrobenthos on chemical properties of marine sediment and overlying
water. In Animal-sediment relations: The biogenic alterations of sediments, ed. by P. L. McCall and
M. Tevesz, 53-102. New York: Plenum Press.
Bu- Olayaan, A. H., Thomas, B. V., 2005, Validating Species Diversity of Benthic Organisms to Trace Metal
Pollution in Kuwait Bay, off the Arabian Gulf, Appiled Ecology and Environmental Research 3(2), pp
93- 100
Burt J., Bartholomew A., Bauman A, Saif A., Sale F., 2009, Coral recruitment and early benthic community
development on several materials used in the construction of artificial reefs and breakwaters,
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 373 (2009) 7278
Claudiu, T., H.G. Rogers, and H. Judith, 1979: Structure dynamics and production of benthic fauna in Lake
Manitoba. Hydrobiologia, 64: 59-95.
George A. D. I., Abowei J. F. N, Alfred-Ockiya J. F., 2010. The Distribution, Abundance and Seasonality of
Benthic Macro Invertebrate in Okpoka Creek Sediments, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Journal of Applied
Sciences Engineering and Technology 2(1): pp 11-18
George A. D. I., Abowei J. F. N, Daka E. R., 2009, Benthic Macro Invertebrate Fauna and Physico chemical
Parameters in Okpoka Creek Sediments, Niger Delta, Nigeria, International Journal of Animal and
Veterinary Advances 1(2): pp 59-65

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY
A. Materials
The procedure of this study will include the gathering of the samples from the different sites of Iloilo
River and benthic organisms will be collected and determined. The following are the materials and
apparatuses needed for the study.
Eckman grab
Plastic container
Formalin solution
Rose Bengal dye
White enamel tray
Forceps
Pipette
Microscope
B. Procedures
Sampling and preparation
The samples will be collected every week on Saturday at 10AM.
Eckman grab of 10 cm diameter and 12 cm long will be used in collecting benthic samples for the
analysis of benthos. Three hauls will be made for the three sampling sites by sending the grab down into
the bottom and using the messenger to close and grab some quantity of sediment. The grab will then be
removed under suction pressure. Composite samples will be composed from each site and will be put into